Disturbing new accounts from women who have escaped the Sudanese city of Al-Fashir detail a campaign of killings, systematic rape, and the disappearance of children following the city’s capture by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The testimonies paint a picture of widespread atrocities in North Darfur as the RSF solidifies its control amid a brutal war against the Sudanese army.
According to UN Women, survivors arriving from the besieged city have described horrifying scenes of violence and abuse. The United Nations is now sounding the alarm, with a senior official stating that sexual violence is being deliberately and systematically deployed as a weapon of war in the region.
The humanitarian situation for those still trapped inside Al-Fashir is equally dire. A formal declaration of famine has been issued for Al-Fashir and the southern city of Kaduqli. UN Women reports that approximately 11 million women and girls across Sudan are facing acute food insecurity, with many risking sexual assault even as they venture out to search for wild leaves and berries to stave off starvation.
The exodus from the city and its surrounding areas continues to grow, with at least 82,000 people having fled since late October. However, aid agencies estimate that as many as 200,000 civilians remain trapped inside Al-Fashir, caught in a desperate situation with limited access to food, water, or safety.
